Michigan vs. Ohio State availability report: Two major contributors listed as questionable

The No. 15 Michigan Wolverines and No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes face off on Saturday in Ann Arbor with both teams releasing their Big Ten-mandated availability report ahead of the showdown. The U-M report features a major surprise.

Despite rumors he might return junior running back Justice Haynes has been listed as OUT for Saturday’s game. Fullback Max Bredeson and offensive tackle Evan Link are questionable.

Here is the full report released on Saturday, including players who are out for the season for Michigan.

OUT FOR SEASON

WR I’Marion Stewart
RB Donovan Johnson
LB Jaydon Hood
OL Andrew Babalola
EDGE Devon Baxter
WR C.J. Charleston

OUT

S Rod Moore
RB Justice Haynes
TE Hogan Hansen
WR Semaj Morgan
LB Ernest Hausmann
EDGE Dominic Nichols

QUESTIONABLE

FB Max Bredeson
OL Evan Link

Key Buckeye designations

Junior wide receiver Carnell Tate and sophomore Jeremiah Smith are questionable on Saturday. The expectation is that they both will play.

Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore weighs in on the Ohio State matchup

Michigan and Ohio State combine to make one of the fiercest rivalries in all of sports, and those both in it and new to it agree.

“Yeah, it’s funny you say that because I was talking to Coach Lindsey about it,” Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore said Monday. “He’s been in the Iron Bowl, and we’ve talked to people who have been in the Iron Bowl and been in this one. It’s different. You can’t describe it. Like, literally, I could try to describe to you the feeling of exactly what it feels like. Oh, it feels like this. It feels like this. I can’t. Like, I remember last year going on the field with Jaishawn, and we’re running out during warm-ups. He’s like, ‘oh, this is different.’

“So it’s a feeling that you can’t really describe. It’s an intensity. It’s just an aura about it that you can’t describe until you get on the field. But it’s awesome to be a part of. It’s great to be a part of. It’s the best rivalry in sports, in my opinion. It’s the funnest one to be a part of. It’s competitive. But there’s nothing like it.”

Saturday’s game between Michigan and Ohio State kicks off at 12:15 p.m. ET on FOX, headlining its Big Noon Saturday coverage.

OSU clinches an undefeated regular season and a trip to the Big Ten Championship Game to play Indiana with a win, while Michigan needs a win and Oregon loss to Oregon to make it back for the fourth time in five years. Oregon can defend its Big Ten title with a win over Washington and Ohio State loss.